Flatiron



J. W. MYERS May 10 I927.

FLAT IRON Filed March 24. 1924 1 N VEN TGR.

A TTORNEY.

astas... 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. MYERS, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNEfAS- SIGNMENTS, OF ONE-THIRD TO JOSEPH H. MYERS, 0F JACKSON, MICHIGAN; ONE- THIRD TO ARTHUR J. TUTTLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN; AND ONE-THIRD T0 AGNES W. MYERS AND JOSEPH W. MYERS, BOTH OF JACKSON. MICHIGAN.

FLATIRON.

Application filed March 24,1924. -Serial No. 701,4Q4.

My invention relates to flatirons and an object of my improvements is to provide an electrically heated flatiron, the temperature of which shall be automatically and elfectively regulated. I also provide an apparatus that is easily adjusted to different types of irons, that secures a sharp makeand-break of the electric circuit, and one in which the thermostatic agent is free from strain when not in use, and which provides a simple and accessible means for adjusting the temperature. In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side view of an apparatus embodying my invention partly broken away to show the interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same, the

' cover being removed.

Fig. 3 is a detailed elevation partly in section showing a modified construction of the temperature adjusting apparatus.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a is the bottomplate, I) is the top plate, and c the fiat heating element held between the plates a ancT b.

This is a usual and conventional construetion.

a is a. slot cut in from the up ensurface of the bottom plate. b is a cylin r'ial aperture extending vertically thru the plate 5 and opening to the slot a. dis a bimetallic strip constituting a thermostatic element secured at d in the slot (1 at the end near the edge of the bottom plate and extending along the lower wall of said slot to a point in-this instance somewhat beyond the center of the iron.

e is the base plate of the make-and-break apparatus for the electric current. The base' plate e is secured to the upper surface of the plate 6 with an aperture therethrough registering with the aperture 6 There is also an aperture e through this base plate registering with a vertical aperture 25 through the plate I; communicating with the slot a. e is a contact point at one edge of the base plate e.

f is a flexible strip secured to the base plate e at f, a point remote from that at which the contact point, e, is located. The strip 7' extends across the base plate a to a point at which an adjustable contact point, f, is located, just above thecontact point, e.

n f is a piece of sheet metal clamped to the to the socket in the strip, 7. In this case the sockets in the strips 7 and e are in a horizontal plane. 0 is a U-shaped spring. The two branches of the spring is are bent toward each other and engaged in the loops of the strips f and 6 so as to exercise forces against said loops because of the elasticity of the spring. The relative position of said loop is such that when the points f and, e" are in contact the outer branch of the spring is a trifle below the inner branch so that the spring pressure has a resultant effect to force the contact points together. When the loop in the piece fis slightly raised it will pass by the dead center and then'the elasticity of the sprin is will act to force the contact points i an e apart.

m is a screw threaded rod adjust-ably se- 4 cured at its upper end to the strip f and extending downward through the aperture 5 to a point slightly above the free end of the thermostatic strip (1. The distance of the lower end of the rod on above the thermostatic strip 03 may be adjusted by means of the nuts connecting. said rod to the strip f.

g is a small rod passing through the aperture, I), in the top plate 6 and resting'at its lower end upon the upper surface of the thermostatic strip d.

j is the cover secured to the base plate a and enclosing the heating elements a, the

upper plate 6, and the make-and-break apparatus. It is a cylindrical rod extendmg vertically through the upper wall of the coverplate j, and provided at its upper end with means adapted to be manipulated to turn the rod 71. about its axis. k is a ointer connected with the rod h and serv in to indicate the angular position of said r0 h is a flatspiral springsecured at lts center to the lowerend' oi the rod It and bearing upon the upper end of said rod. By turning the rod h, the spring 72. exerc ses more or less ressure upon the upper end of the rod -g,.w 'ch is communicated through saidrod to the thermostatic strip (2. V

In Fig. 3, an alternative form of the adjusting mechanism is shown. In th1s the spiral spring h is replaced by a rigid cam ha, and the rod 9 is replaced by an elastic rod, gal

It will be observed that the actuating thermostatic strip (1 travels some distance before it commences to' act upon the elastic strip 7 and that such action is at a pomt adjacent to the attachment point f of the strip f and remote from the contact points f 6 so that any motion imparted to said strip will be multiplied when transmitted to the contact point 7*.

In an iron of this kind, the cloth being operated upon is frequently moistened and the heat is withdrawn more rapidly from the lower plate which is the operating part of the iron and therefore from the part, the

- temperature of which it is desired to regulate. I therefore put the thermostaticelement directly in contact with the operative plate which, in the first form of the construction, employs the upper and lower plates.

In this construction the heating elements engaged between the two plates are of such form and extent that they do not come over the opening a and therefore they cannot radiate directly to the thermostatic element.

The operation of the above described deyice is as follows First referring to the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when thetemperature of the plate a rises the heat is communicated to the thermostatic strip 03 which begins to bend upward until it comes in contact with the lower end of the rod m, as shown in broken lines in Fin. 1. its force is then exertedupon said rod and therethrough upon the strip 7, which is pressed. upward carrying the spring it beyond its dead point and develo ing the elasticity of said strip. When the orce has become sufi icient the contact between the points f and c is broken and the point i is carried quickly upward and away from. the point e by the developed elasticity of the strip f and'by the snapover action of the spring is.

lihe temperature at which the thermostatic element shall act may be adjusted by rotatingthe rod h and therefore puttin more or less pressure upon the upper surface of the thermostatic element to resist the action thereof, or the position of the rod nn may be adgustedse that its lower end is nearer to, or further from the stri d.

lathe modification of the regu ating apparatusshown 3, instead of the elastic sp'ral spring is, the elastic element is incorporated with the rod 9', as shown at Lt win oe'noticed that the above described apparatus is easily aouusted to either form o: the iron shown commonly used.

- neaaeaa The point of contact of the thermostat with the strip f at a distance from its movable end and the snapover spring is, secure a quick make-and-break action.

11; will be noticed that the thermostatic strip travels some distance before it exercises its actuating force, and that the means for adjusting the temperature is accessible, sim lo, and convenient.

- he lower surface of the iron is the operative part and th heat is taken from this surface in use and at a varying rate. I therefore place'the thermostatic element in close connection with the material that this surface bounds, and convey the mechanical action of the thermostat to apparatus located at a convenient and accessible point where it is not liable to be injured in the use of the iron.

What I claim is 1. In an electrically heated flatiron a removable cover therefor a circuit controlling apparatus, a thermostat adapted to actuate said apparatus, and a cam forming an adjustable yielding force modifying the action of said thermostat said cam being itself elastic, said cam being permanently secured to said cover and adapted to automatically engage to actuate said apparatus when the cover is adjusted to the iron.

2. In an electrically heated fiatiron, a removable cover therefor a circuit controlling apparatus, a thermostat adapted to actuate to kee the circuit closed and located above said tiermostat upon said iron, and means whereby the motion of said thermostat shall actuate said controlling means to open and close said circuit.

i. In an electric flatiron having an upper and lower plate with an intermediate heating element, a thermostat related to the lower plate and located below the upper plate, a circuit controlling apparatus biased to keep the circuit closed and located above saidthermostat upon said iron and mechanical means whereby the motion of said thermostat shall actuate said controlling means to open and close the circuit.

. 5. In an electrically heated flatiron havmg an upper and lower plate with a heatin element t erebetween, a thermostat related to said lower'plate and located below the an upper and lower plate with an interpose heating element, said iron being rovided with a vertical aperture through said upper plate and element, a thermostat related to said lower plate in such a manner as to receive heat freely therefrom and located below the uppervplate, a rod pasing through said aperture and engaging upon said thermostat and said means above said upper plate for acting upon said rod, to regulate the action of said thermostat;

7, In an electrically heated fiatiron having an upper and lower plate with an 1nterposed heating element, said iron being provided with a vertical aperture through said upper plate and element, a thermostat related to said lower plate in such a manner asto receive heat freely therefrom and located below the upper plate, a rod passing through said aperture and engaging upon said thermostat and means above said upper plate for acting upon said rod, to regulate the action of said thermostat, and an elastic member in said regulating means.

. cation.

8. In an electrically heated flatiron havmg anupper and lower plate with an interposed heating element, said iron being provided with a vertical aperture through said upper plate and element, a thermostat related to said lower late in such a manner as to receive heat freely therefrom and located below the upper plate, a rod passing throu'h said aperture and engag' upon said ermostat and means above szi i d up r plate for acting u on said rod, to regufi t e the action ofsai thermostat, means for applying a yielding variable force to the upper end of said rod.

9. In an electrically heated fiatiron, the combination of an upper and lower plate, a thermostat located below said up er plate, a circuit controlling apparatus a ve said thermostat, a oove' in the upper surface of the lower p ate means for communicating the motion of the thermostat to said apparatus, the heating, element between said p ates being so formed and located that it shall not communicate heat directly into said groove.

1.0.1:! an electrically heated fiatiron, a

base plate, an arm carryin acontact secured-to said base plate, sai arm biased to keep the circuit of said iron closed, a

thermostatic striparranged to actuate said arm to open the circuit, variable resilient means for acting on said thermostat to alter the temperature of actuation of said arm by said thermostat.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specifi- JOSEPH w. MYERS. 4 

